# MightyScape versus eCut

eCut is a powerfull addon for CorelDraw and can be used for a lot of things like hot wire cutting, laser cutting or vinyl cutting. But CorelDraw is closed source. I try to find good alternatives using Inkscape. I did some quick comparisons for the listed functions from their website. Most things can be done with Inkscape too - some better, some worse, some different.

<table id="bkmrk-" role="grid" style="width: 88.1514%; padding: 0px;"><colgroup><col style="width: 12.0174%;"></col><col style="width: 25.7783%;"></col><col style="width: 11.5193%;"></col> </colgroup></table>

<table id="bkmrk-ecut-mightyscape-equ" role="grid" style="width: 99.9734%; height: 2719.67px;"><thead><tr style="height: 38.1167px;"><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 38.1167px;">**eCut**</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 38.1167px;">**MightyScape equivalent**</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 38.1167px;">**eCut**</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 38.1167px;">**MightyScape equivalent**</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 38.1167px;">**eCut**</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 38.1167px;">**MightyScape equivalent**</td></tr></thead><tbody><tr role="row" style="height: 102.817px;"><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 102.817px;">[\[True shape nesting\]](http://eng.e-cut.ru/index.php?view=function&functionid=0)</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 102.817px;">- [Cutting Optimizer (Nesting)](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/books/fablab-chemnitz/page/cutting-optimizer-nesting)

</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 102.817px;">[\[Search shapes\]](http://eng.e-cut.ru/index.php?view=function&functionid=22)</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 102.817px;">- **no extension yet**

</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 102.817px;">[\[Replace\]](http://eng.e-cut.ru/index.php?view=function&functionid=47)</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 102.817px;">- **no extension yet**

</td></tr><tr role="row" style="height: 102.817px;"><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 102.817px;">[\[Print/Cut\]](http://eng.e-cut.ru/index.php?view=function&functionid=1)</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 102.817px;">- See [Inkcut](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/books/fablab-chemnitz/page/inkcut)

</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 102.817px;">[\[Create SignBox\]](http://eng.e-cut.ru/index.php?view=function&functionid=24)</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 102.817px;">- **no extension yet**

</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 102.817px;">[\[Reference scale\]](http://eng.e-cut.ru/index.php?view=function&functionid=48)</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 102.817px;">- [Scale To Real](https://old.stadtfabrikanten.org/pages/createpage.action?spaceKey=IFM&title=Scale+To+Real&linkCreation=true&fromPageId=76578961)
- [Scale To Path Length](https://old.stadtfabrikanten.org/pages/createpage.action?spaceKey=IFM&title=Scale+To+Path+Length&linkCreation=true&fromPageId=76578961)

</td></tr><tr role="row" style="height: 130.983px;"><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 130.983px;">[\[Perimeter\]](http://eng.e-cut.ru/index.php?view=function&functionid=2)</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 130.983px;">- Extension → Visualize Path → Measure Path

</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 130.983px;">[\[Create lines\]](http://eng.e-cut.ru/index.php?view=function&functionid=25)</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 130.983px;">- [Grids/Guides](https://old.stadtfabrikanten.org/pages/createpage.action?spaceKey=IFM&title=Grids%2FGuides&linkCreation=true&fromPageId=76578961)

</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 130.983px;">[\[Create bridges\]](http://eng.e-cut.ru/index.php?view=function&functionid=49)</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 130.983px;">- [Create Links (Breakaway Connectors)](https://old.stadtfabrikanten.org/pages/createpage.action?spaceKey=IFM&title=Create+Links+%28Breakaway+Connectors%29&linkCreation=true&fromPageId=76578961)

</td></tr><tr role="row" style="height: 88.7333px;"><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 88.7333px;">[\[Area\]](http://eng.e-cut.ru/index.php?view=function&functionid=3)</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 88.7333px;">- Extension → Visualize Path → Measure Path

</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 88.7333px;">[\[Create grid\]](http://eng.e-cut.ru/index.php?view=function&functionid=26)</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 88.7333px;">- [Grids/Guides](https://old.stadtfabrikanten.org/pages/createpage.action?spaceKey=IFM&title=Grids%2FGuides&linkCreation=true&fromPageId=76578961)

</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 88.7333px;">[\[Variable\]](http://eng.e-cut.ru/index.php?view=function&functionid=50)</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 88.7333px;">- [NextGenerator](https://old.stadtfabrikanten.org/pages/createpage.action?spaceKey=IFM&title=NextGenerator&linkCreation=true&fromPageId=76578961)

</td></tr><tr role="row" style="height: 194.35px;"><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 194.35px;">[\[Cost\]](http://eng.e-cut.ru/index.php?view=function&functionid=4)</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 194.35px;">- **no extension yet**

</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 194.35px;">[\[Crop marks\]](http://eng.e-cut.ru/index.php?view=function&functionid=27)</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 194.35px;">- [Printing Marks Dotted](https://old.stadtfabrikanten.org/pages/createpage.action?spaceKey=IFM&title=Printing+Marks+Dotted&linkCreation=true&fromPageId=76578961), or
- [Trim Marks](https://old.stadtfabrikanten.org/display/IFM/Trim+Marks), or
- Extensions → Render → Layout → Printing Marks

</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 194.35px;">[\[Hotwire cutting\]](http://eng.e-cut.ru/index.php?view=function&functionid=51)</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 194.35px;">- **no extension yet**

</td></tr><tr role="row" style="height: 292.95px;"><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 292.95px;">[\[Machine time\]](http://eng.e-cut.ru/index.php?view=function&functionid=5)</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 292.95px;">- [Laser Check](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/books/fablab-chemnitz/page/laser-check)
- can also be done with [Inkcut](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/books/fablab-chemnitz/page/inkcut) software easily

</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 292.95px;">- [Laser Check](https://old.stadtfabrikanten.org/pages/createpage.action?spaceKey=IFM&title=Laser+Check&linkCreation=true&fromPageId=76578961)
- can also be done with [Inkcut](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/books/fablab-chemnitz/page/inkcut) software easily

</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 292.95px;">- Path → [Simplify](https://old.stadtfabrikanten.org/display/IFM/Simplify+paths), or
- Extensions → Modify Path → [Approximate Curves by Straight Lines (Flatten Beziers)](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/books/in-house-extensions/page/approximate-curves-by-straight-lines-flatten-beziers), or
- Flevobezier, or
- [Purge Duplicate Path Nodes](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/books/fablab-chemnitz/page/purge-duplicate-path-nodes)

</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 292.95px;">[\[Optimize path\]](http://eng.e-cut.ru/index.php?view=function&functionid=52)</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 292.95px;">- [Optimize Sequence: Travel Distances](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/books/fablab-chemnitz/page/optimize-sequence-travel-distances)
- [Optimize Sequence: Small Holes First](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/books/fablab-chemnitz/page/optimize-sequence-small-holes-first)
- [Longest Continuous Path](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/books/fablab-chemnitz/page/optimize-sequence-small-holes-first)
- [Line Sorting](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/books/fablab-chemnitz/page/optimize-sequence-small-holes-first)

</td></tr><tr role="row" style="height: 145.05px;"><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 145.05px;">[\[Weeding lines\]](http://eng.e-cut.ru/index.php?view=function&functionid=6)</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 145.05px;">- [Weeding lines with Inkscape](https://old.stadtfabrikanten.org/display/IFM/Weeding+lines+with+Inkscape)

(no extension - lot of manual steps)</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 145.05px;">[\[Effects\]](http://eng.e-cut.ru/index.php?view=function&functionid=31)</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 145.05px;">- there are massively more features in Inkscape/ MightyScape

</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 145.05px;">[\[Finger joint box\]](http://eng.e-cut.ru/index.php?view=function&functionid=53)</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 145.05px;">- [Finger-jointed/Tabbed Boxes](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/books/fablab-chemnitz-boxespapercraft/chapter/finger-jointedtabbed-boxes)

</td></tr><tr role="row" style="height: 109.85px;"><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 109.85px;">[\[Multiply\]](http://eng.e-cut.ru/index.php?view=function&functionid=7)</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 109.85px;">- no extension yet (which creates such cool crosses)

</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 109.85px;">[\[Edge roll\]](http://eng.e-cut.ru/index.php?view=function&functionid=32)</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 109.85px;">- [Unwind Paths](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/books/fablab-chemnitz/page/unwind-paths)

</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 109.85px;">[\[Finger joint shape\]](http://eng.e-cut.ru/index.php?view=function&functionid=54)</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 109.85px;">- [Box Maker - Path To Flex](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/books/fablab-chemnitz-boxespapercraft/page/box-maker-path-to-flex)

</td></tr><tr role="row" style="height: 109.85px;"><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 109.85px;">[\[Rectangle nesting\]](http://eng.e-cut.ru/index.php?view=function&functionid=10)</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 109.85px;">- [Fill With Copies](https://old.stadtfabrikanten.org/display/IFM/Fill+With+Copies)

</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 109.85px;">[\[Contour cutting\]](http://eng.e-cut.ru/index.php?view=function&functionid=33)</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 109.85px;">- easy to do with Union + Path Offset / Outset

</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 109.85px;">[\[Volume/mass\]](http://eng.e-cut.ru/index.php?view=function&functionid=55)</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 109.85px;">- **no extension yet**

</td></tr><tr role="row" style="height: 109.85px;"><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 109.85px;">[\[LEDs\]](http://eng.e-cut.ru/index.php?view=function&functionid=11)</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 109.85px;">- no extension yet. But a lot of pattern tools to do this

</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 109.85px;">[\[Separate curve\]](http://eng.e-cut.ru/index.php?view=function&functionid=34)</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 109.85px;">- [Split Bezier (Subdivide Path)](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/books/fablab-chemnitz/page/split-bezier-subdivide-path)

</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 109.85px;">[\[Reduce nodes\]](http://eng.e-cut.ru/index.php?view=function&functionid=28)</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 109.85px;">  
</td></tr><tr role="row" style="height: 215.483px;"><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 215.483px;">[\[Neon\]](http://eng.e-cut.ru/index.php?view=function&functionid=12)</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 215.483px;">- no extension yet. But a lot of pattern tools to do this

</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 215.483px;">[\[Remove duplicated edges\]](http://eng.e-cut.ru/index.php?view=function&functionid=35)</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 215.483px;">- [Purge Duplicate Path Segments](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/books/fablab-chemnitz/page/purge-duplicate-path-segments)
- [Occult Plugin (Hidden / Superimposed Line Removal)](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/books/fablab-chemnitz/page/occult-plugin-hidden-superimposed-line-removal)

</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 215.483px;">[\[Door panels\]](http://eng.e-cut.ru/index.php?view=function&functionid=56)</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 215.483px;">  
</td></tr><tr role="row" style="height: 166.183px;"><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 166.183px;">[\[Draft\]](http://eng.e-cut.ru/index.php?view=function&functionid=13)</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 166.183px;">- Native function using Live Path Effect dimensioning, or
- legacy [Dimensioning (Replaced by LPE)](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/books/fablab-chemnitz/page/dimensioning-replaced-by-lpe)

</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 166.183px;">[\[Slice shape\]](http://eng.e-cut.ru/index.php?view=function&functionid=36)</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 166.183px;">- no extension yet, but similar to [Split Bezier (Subdivide Path)](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/books/fablab-chemnitz/page/split-bezier-subdivide-path) and [Destructive Clip](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/books/fablab-chemnitz/page/destructive-clip)

</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 166.183px;">[\[G codes\]](http://eng.e-cut.ru/index.php?view=function&functionid=57)</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 166.183px;">  
</td></tr><tr role="row" style="height: 109.85px;"><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 109.85px;">[\[Central line\]](http://eng.e-cut.ru/index.php?view=function&functionid=14)</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 109.85px;">- Native Centerline Tracing with CTRL + ALT + B

</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 109.85px;">[\[Eyelets\]](http://eng.e-cut.ru/index.php?view=function&functionid=37)</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 109.85px;">- **no extension yet**

</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 109.85px;">[\[Liquid acrylic\]](http://eng.e-cut.ru/index.php?view=function&functionid=58)</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 109.85px;">  
</td></tr><tr role="row" style="height: 88.7333px;"><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 88.7333px;">[\[Smart divide\]](http://eng.e-cut.ru/index.php?view=function&functionid=15)</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 88.7333px;">- Native function using contour breaking

</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 88.7333px;">[\[Create carrier (boundbox)\]](http://eng.e-cut.ru/index.php?view=function&functionid=38)</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 88.7333px;">- [Bounding Box](https://old.stadtfabrikanten.org/pages/createpage.action?spaceKey=IFM&title=Bounding+Box&linkCreation=true&fromPageId=76578961)

</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 88.7333px;">[\[Scripts\]](http://eng.e-cut.ru/index.php?view=function&functionid=59)</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 88.7333px;">  
</td></tr><tr role="row" style="height: 208.433px;"><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 208.433px;">[\[Connect opened paths\]](http://eng.e-cut.ru/index.php?view=function&functionid=17)</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 208.433px;">- [Join Paths / Create Tabs And Dimples](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/books/fablab-chemnitz/page/join-paths-create-tabs-and-dimples "Join Paths / Create Tabs And Dimples"), or
- [Chain Paths](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/books/fablab-chemnitz/page/chain-paths), or
- [Close Paths](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/books/fablab-chemnitz/page/chain-paths), or
- [Line Merging (Combine Paths)](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/books/fablab-chemnitz/page/line-merging-combine-paths)

</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 208.433px;">[\[Align and Distribute\]](http://eng.e-cut.ru/index.php?view=function&functionid=39)</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 208.433px;">- Native function

</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 208.433px;">[\[Finger joint change size\]](http://eng.e-cut.ru/index.php?view=function&functionid=60)</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 208.433px;">  
</td></tr><tr role="row" style="height: 208.45px;"><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 208.45px;">[\[Fillet\]](http://eng.e-cut.ru/index.php?view=function&functionid=18)</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 208.45px;">- Native function, or
- legacy plugin [Fillet And Chamfer (Replaced by LPE)](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/books/fablab-chemnitz/page/fillet-and-chamfer-replaced-by-lpe), or
- [Round Corners (Replaced by LPE)](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/books/fablab-chemnitz/page/round-corners-replaced-by-lpe)

</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 208.45px;">[\[Set size\]](http://eng.e-cut.ru/index.php?view=function&functionid=41)</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 208.45px;">- Native function, or
- legacy plugin [Scale To Size (Replaced by default transform scale)](https://old.stadtfabrikanten.org/pages/createpage.action?spaceKey=IFM&title=Scale+To+Size+%28Replaced+by+default+transform+scale%29&linkCreation=true&fromPageId=76578961)

</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 208.45px;">  
</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 208.45px;">  
</td></tr><tr role="row" style="height: 130.983px;"><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 130.983px;">[\[Search for intersections\]](http://eng.e-cut.ru/index.php?view=function&functionid=20)</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 130.983px;">- [Contour Scanner And Trimmer](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/books/fablab-chemnitz/page/contour-scanner-and-trimmer)
- [Path Intersections](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/books/fablab-chemnitz/page/path-intersections)

</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 130.983px;">[\[CAD functions\]](http://eng.e-cut.ru/index.php?view=function&functionid=42)</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 130.983px;">- Most functions are native in Inkscape,
- or possible with the having extensions

</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 130.983px;">  
</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 130.983px;">  
</td></tr><tr role="row" style="height: 166.183px;"><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 166.183px;">[\[Search duplicates\]](http://eng.e-cut.ru/index.php?view=function&functionid=21)</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 166.183px;">- **no extension yet**, but [Purge Duplicate Path Segments](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/books/fablab-chemnitz/page/purge-duplicate-path-segments) could be extended with this function

</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 166.183px;">[\[DXF Export\]](http://eng.e-cut.ru/index.php?view=function&functionid=46)</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 166.183px;">- Native function

</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 166.183px;">  
</td><td style="width: 16.66%; height: 166.183px;">  
</td></tr></tbody></table>